Refrigeration machine



2 9 R. ALEXANDER ET AL 1,948,155

REFRIGERATION MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS WW as ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. R. L. ALEXANDER ET AL- REFRIGERATION MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25 1950 lNV NTORS 9.4g 7?. M W

ATTORNEYS Patented 20," 1934' nsrmonns'rrou mcnmn Robert L. Alexander and James It. McCallumy Clinton, Iowa, assignors to The Climax Englneering Company, Clinton, Iowa, at corporation of Delaware Application September 26. 1930 Serial No. 484,538

Claims. (Cl- 62-115) This'invention relates to-refrigerating apparatus and, more particularly concerns an improved refrigerant compressing and condensing unit for use in refrigerating systems of the com pression type..

Refrigerating systems of the compression type include generally a compressor or pump for come pressing a gaseous refrigerant, a condenser for cooling and liquefying the refrigerant so compressed, an expansion chamber or evaporator in which the liquefied refrigerant is permitted to gasify and, so produce the desiredheat-absorbing eifect, and suitable means for maintaining a diflerence in pressure between the condenser and e aporator. In the operation of a system of this type, the gasifying refrigerant in the'evaporator absorbs heat from-the refrigerated space, and this heat is later removed from the refrigerant in the condenser after the refrigerant has been compressed to-a high pressure. heat'is generated incompressing the refrigerant and this heat is partly conducted to the compressing apparatus and partly to the condenser by the'compressed refrigerant, Thus heat must be dissipated from the condenser in order that the temperature of the refrigerant therein may be reduced to a point at which liquefaction takes place, and heat must be dissipated from the compressing apparatus in order to avoid overheating and injury to the parts thereof and in order to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant discharged intothe condenser, to a value within the capacity of the condenser.

Compression refrigerating systems of the type generally described are extensivelyused to cool domestic refrigerators, water coolers and like devices where the amount of space available for the disposition of the mechanism is extremely limited. It is accordingly desirable that the compressing and condensing apparatus of. the system be constructed and arranged to occupy a minimum amount of space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerant compressing and condensing unit embodying a construction and arrangement of parts such that both the compression apparatus and the condenser may be readily maintained at the desired temperatures during operation either by convection air currents induced by the heat of these parts or by the use of mechanically circulated air currents in combination with induced air currents. It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a refrigerant compressing and condensing unit of extremely compact construction and arrange- Considerable ment and of pleasing exterior appearance. The v invention further contemplates an arrangement of theficompressing and condensing apparatus such that these parts are readily adaptable to cooling either by convection air currents alone or by a combination of convection air currents and mechanically impelled air currents.

The above and other objects of the invention are carried out by providing a compressor and driving motor therefor mounted within a sealed compression casing and by mounting the con-- denser above this casing and insuch relation thereto that the rising convection air currents induced by the heat generated in the compress-" ing apparatus are .supplied to the condenser. The arrangement of the condenser is preferably such that currents of air induced byv the heat thereof also accelerate the flow of air over the compression casing. The compression casing may be provided with heat radiating projections or with an enclosing shroud or both, these means being designed and arranged to promote the rapid flow of convection air currents along the S111? face of the casing. The condenser is preferably in the form of a coil or a plurality of coils of pipe which may be provided with heat radiatin fins, and a shroud or" enclosing shell may be provided about the. condenser to promote the rapid induction of air currents thereover. In a preferred form of the invention, the heat raare in the form of fiues open at their lower and upper;- ends, and these projections are spaced apart whereby comparatively cool air from the surrounding atmosphere may be drawn therebetween into direct contact with the condenser coils.

The condenser as a whole is. preferably of annular form, and in one modification of the invention, a fan or other mechanical air circulating device is conveniently mounted on top of the 'diating projections on the compression casing compression casing and within the central circular recess of the condenser. when so disposed,

'the' fan not only forces cooling air through the condenser but forces cooling air along the sides ofthe compression casingand over the heat radiating projections thereon as well.

- The various objects and advantages of ourinvention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain 105 modifications thereof have been illustrated. In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a refrigerating unit embodying the present invention:

Fimzisasectionalviewtakenalongtheline Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the unit in in Figs. 1 and 2, the refrigeration unit comprises generally a compression casing C enclosing a refrigerant compressor P and a driving motor M therefor and a condenser S- The compression casing C. comprisesa base plate 1 having a dome shaped shell 2 sealed thereto in any suitable manner. In the disclosed embodiment, the base plate 1 is circular and is provided with an annular groove 3 .on its upper face inwardly of the outer edge thereof. A lead gasket 4 or other packing means is carried in the groove 3. An inner ring 5, having an annular depending flange 6 thereon, is secured within the lower edge of the casing shell 2, the extreme lower edge of the shell being spun inwardly against the beveled lower outer edge of the ring as shown at 7. An outer ring 8 is fixed to the outer surface of the shell 2 opposite the inner ring 5 and the rings 5 and 8 are sealed and secured to the shell by tinning, soldering or welding. The depending flange 6 on the inner ring 5 fits within the groove 3 in the base plate 1, and the ring 5, together with the attached shell 2, is clamped to the base plate 1 by a pluralityof machine screws 9 or equivalent means. The flange 6 engages the gasket 4 and forms atightly sealed joint at this point.

The base plate is provided with an integral central raised portion 10 having a machined upper surface which servesas the lower end plate of the compressor P. A bearing opening 11 provided with a bearing bushing 12 is formed-in the raised portion 10 at substantially the center of the base plate 1. The cylinder wall member 15 of the compressor P rests upon the upper surface of the raised portion 10 andan upper compressor end plate 14 rests upon the upper surface of the member 15, the end plate 14 and the cylinder wall member 15 being tightly clamped together and to the raised portion 10 by means of the machine screws 15'. The upper end plate 14 is provided with an upwardly extending hollow bearing boss 16 carrying bearing bushings 1'7 aligned with the bearing bushing 12. a

A vertical shaft 18 is journaled in the bearings 12 and 17 and extends above the upper hearing as shown. An eccentric 19 is formed integral with-or suitably secured to the shaft 18 between the lower surface of the upper end plate 14 and the upper surface of the raised portion 10, this eccentric being free to rotate within the circular cylinder cavity 20 of the cylinder wall member 15. An annular piston 21 having a radially extending blade portion 22 surrounds and rotatably engages the eccentric 19 within the cylinder 20. The radial blade portion 22 extends into a radial recess 23 in the cylinder wall mem: ber 15 and is mounted for-reciprocating and oscillatory movement therein between a pair of substantially semi-circular blocks 24 carried in grooveson the opposite sides of the recess 23 as .shown.

adjacent one side of the piston blade 22 as shown in Fig. 2. A check valve 26 of any suitable type is preferably provided at the lower end of the intake port 25, and a suction pipe 27 is suitably connected to the intake side of this check valve. The exhaust port 28 of the compressor extends through the upper end plate 14 and opens directly into the interior of the compression casing C, a

I leaf type. check valve 29 being preferably provided over the upper end of this port. The lower end of the exhaust port 28 opens into the compressor cylinder cavity 20 at a point adjacent the opposite side of the piston blade 22 from that onwhich the intake port 25 is located. The position of the exhaust port 28 relative to the piston blade 22 is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2.

When the shaft 18 rotates'in the direction indicated'by the arrow in Fig. 2, the annular piston 21 is moved by the eccentric 19 through an eccentric path within the cylinder cavity 20, and refrigerant gas is drawn from the intake port 25, compressed and carried around the cylinder.- cavity and expelled therefrom through the exhaust port- 28 into the interior of the compression .casing C.

An upwardly extending flange 30 having a plurality of side openings 31 therein is preferably formed integral with the upper end plate 14 at itsouter edge. The stator 32 of the driving motor M is fixed directly to the upper end of the flange 30 by suitable means, such as the bolts 33. The

rotor 34 of the motor M is fixed to the vertical shaft 18 adjacent its upper end by suitable means and is thus disposed within and in operative relation to the stator 32.

Means are provided for conducting lubricating oil from the interior of the compression casing C to the bearing surfaces of the compression mechanism. F As shown, an oil duct 35 connects the lower bearing opening 11 with the interior of the compression casing, and communicating oil ducts 36, 37 and 38 carry the oil from the lower bearing opening through the shaft 18 to the surfaces of the eccentric 19.,and the upper bearings 17..

The compressed refrigerant is conducted out of the casing C through a pipe 39sealed in an opening adjacent the upper end of the casing shell 2.

The compression casing C is preferably provided with suitable heat radiating projections on the outer surface thereof. In the disclosed embodiment, a plurality of laterally extending heat radiating fins 40 are welded to or otherwise fixed in intimate contact with the outer side surfaces of the casing shell 2. The fins used may be variously formed, but it is preferred to employ fins which. are open to the atmosphere at their top and bottom ends only, and accordingly, the fins 40 are of substantially U section and are mounted with their edges in contact with the shell 2 as shown in Fig. 2.

The condenser S preferably comprises aplurality of spaced concentric coils of pipe 41"-dis- Heat radiating proinnermost coil, areemployed for this purpose. The condenser coils 41 preferably rest on a plu- I rality of spaced pads 43 of felt or similar material disposed on the upper edges of the casing .fins 40. The condenser structure may beclamped to the casing fins'by means of bolts 'condenser S is preferably enclosed by a cap or shroud 48 having a large central opening 49 in the upper end thereof. The shroud 48 may be fixed to and supported by extensions 50 on the plates 45 as shown. The lower edge of the shroud 48 preferably extends below the condenser and surrounds the outer surfaces of the casing fins 40 adjacent their upper ends.

The entire refrigerating unit is supported on a suitable surface 51 and it is preferred to provide vibration absorbing and sound deadening supports for this purpose. As shown in Fig. l, a pluralily of angle brackets 52 are fixed to the outer ring 8 of the shell 2 by machine screws 53. The outer ends of the brackets 52 rest-on the upper ends of plugs 54 of rubber or other vibration absorbing material. The plugs 54 are preferably enlarged at'their lower ends to present annular shoulders thereon, and are fixed to the surface 51 by the sleeves 55 having inwardly extending flanges 56 engaging the shoulders of the plugs. The sleeves 55 may be secured to the surface 51 by the bolts 57 passing through openings in the lugs 58 formed integral with the sleeves. A bolt 59 is centrally embedded in each plug 54 and extends upwardly therefrom through an opening in the outer leg of the bracket 52 resting on the plug. The bracket 52 is clamped securely to the plug 54 by a nut 60 engaging the bolt 59. With the described construction, the refrigerating unit is firmly secured to the surface 51 but the entire weight thereof is transmitted through the vibration absorbing plugs 54.

The lower end of the compression casing C. as well as the support means of the unit, are pref: erably enclosed by a shroud ringfil. As shown. this ring preferably surrounds the heat radiating fins 40 of the casing adjacent their lower ends. and may be secured thereto by Welding or otherwise. The ring 61 terminates above the supporting surface 51 so thatair may pass between the surface 51 and the lower edge of the ring and thence upwardly through the casing fins 40 and the condenser structure S.

Refrigerating systems of the type described are usually provided with suitable control means including a manually operable switch. an automaticstarting switch and thermostatically operated means for governing the intermittent operating periods of the machine. This equipment, or certain elements thereof, may be conveniently grouped in a control box, and 'in accordance with the present invention. this control box 62 is mounted in an opening in the outer surface of one of the casing fins 40. With this arrangement. the control equipment does not add to the bulk of the machine. is conveniently located for access by the operator and is so disposed as to be protected against injury during shipment or installation.

As explained above. the liquid refrigerant pipe 47 leading from the condenser S is connected through suitable pressure reducing means to an evaporator or refrigerating chamber, not shown. The liquid refrigerant ga'sifies in the evaporator to produce the desired heat absorbing effect and the gasified refrigerant from the evaporator is returned to the compressor P through the suction pipe 2'7.

In operation, the compressor P 'is driven by the motor M and discharges compressed refrigerant gas into the interior of the compression casing C. Considerable heat is evolved by the compression of the refrigerant, and this heat is transmitted to the casing through the compression mechanism and through the compressed gas in the casing. It is essential that this heat be dissipated to prevent injury to the compression apparatus. It is further essential that considerable heat be dissipated from the condenser S, so that the temperature of the compressed refrigerant delivered thereto may be reduced to a point at which the refrigerant liquefies.

In accordance with the present invention, the

heat of the compression casing and of the con denser induces rising air currents which cool these elements by convection. Thus the heat of the compression casing C 'is transmitted to the fins 40 by conduction and rapidly rising currents of air are produced within these fins and in the spaces therebetween, these air currents passing upwardly over the condenser S and out of the central opening 49 in the upper shroud 48. They heat of the condenser S also induces rising-air currents so that the flow of cooling air over the casing fins is accelerated by the condenser heat. The air. which enters the upper shroud 48 through the spaces between the casing fins 40. is comparatively cool and serves to further reduce the condenser temperature.

66 is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft or spindle 6'7. the lower end of which is fixed to the outer surface of the top of the casing shell 2. The fan F may be driven by any suitable means and as shown in Fig. 3. is driven by the compressor driving motor M within the casing C. To this end. one or more permanent or electromagnets 68 are fixed to the upper end of the motor rotor 34. the poles 69 of these magnets extending close to the inner surface of the casing shell 2 at its upper end. A plurality of armature shoes '70 are'fixed to or formed integral with the fan hub 66 and lie close to the outer surface of the shell 2 opposite the poles 69 of the magnets 68. As the motor rotor 34 rotates. the rotating magnetic field set up by.

the magnets 68 rotates thefan F through the armature shoes '70. When the fan F is driven in this manner. the casing shell 2 is preferably formed of a non-magnetic metal having a high of the condenser S are preferably provided with fins which permit the passage of air currents radially through the condenser structureas well as vertically therethrough. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, disc type or spiral fins 72. extending at right angles to the coiled pipes '71, are preferably employed. The upper shroud or cap 73 is provided with a plurality of lateral air outlet .openings '74 in the outer cylindrical wall thereof.

When the motor of the modified unit shown in Fig. 3 is in operation, the fan F is rotated and air is drawn inwardly through the central topopening '75 in the upper shroud 73 and driven rapidly through the condenser coils '71 and out through the lateral openings '74 in the shroud. Some of the air from the fan passes downwardly along the sides of the compression casing C within and between the fins 40 and so cools the compression casing. As explained above, refrigeration systems of the type described usually operate intermittently, the degree .of refrigeration produced thereby being governed by the relative duration of theperiods of operation and idleness. Whent-he compression mechanism is stopped, the fan F ceases to rotate and rising convection air currents are accordingly induced by the heat of the comv the idle periods.

If desired, the fan employed to circulate air over the condenser and the compression casing may be driven by a separate motor rather than by the compressor driving motor. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, a motor may be mounted on top of the compression'casing shell 2 within the condenser coils 71 and a plurality of radial fan blades '76 may be driven by this motor through the cup shaped member 77 fixed to the motor shaft '78. Aside from the driving means for the fan blades '76, the construction and operation of the modification of Fig. 4 is identical with that of the modification of Fig. 3.

We claim:

1. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a compressor, a sealed -casing enclosing said compressor, a plurality of vertically disposed heat radiating fins extending laterally from said casing and a condenser connected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and disposed above said casing and at least partially within a vertical projection of said fins in the path of rising convection air currents induced along said fins by heat from said casing.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sealed casin't. a compressor in said casing, '21. motor connected to drive said compressor, a pluralityof substantially vertical spaced heat radiating projections extending laterally from said casing, and a condenser located entirely above said casing and having at least a portion thereof disposed directly over the upper 'ends of 'said projections in such: relation thereto that rising air currents induced by the .heatof said projections pass upwardly through said condenser and rising air currents induced by the heat of said condenser pass upwardly along said projections duringthe operation of the machine.

3. Ina refrigerating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sealed casing, a compressor in said casing, a motor connected to drive said compressor, a plurality of substantially verticalspaced heat radiating projections extending laterally from said casing, and a condenser located entirely above said casing and disposed directly over said projections whereby a rising stream of air is induced during the operation of the. machine by the heat of said casing and said condenser, said air stream flowing suc- "and over said condenser.

4. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising an air cooled condenser and a compressor casing mounted below said condenser and having cooling fins thereon, said cooling fins being arranged to form enclosed vertically extending columns of air positioned vertically below said condenser to deliver air thereto.

5. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a sealed casing, a compressor and a driving motor therefor within said casing, a plurality of spaced vertically extending cooling fins on said casing forming enclosed vertical air columns along the sides of said casing, a condenser mounted to receiveicompressed refrigerant from said compressor and disposed entirely above said casing over said fins, and a shroud surrounding said condenser and the upper ends of said fins for directing the air from said collmns through said condenser.

6. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a sealed casing, a compressor and a driving motor therefor within said casing, a plurality of heat radiating fins on the sides of said casing, said fins comprising vertical members of U-shaped sectionhaving their arms fixed to said casing, and a condenser connected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and disposed entirely above said casing and directly over said fins.

' 7. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a sealed casing, a compressorin saidcasing,an.annular condenser connected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and located entirely above said casing and means mounted on top of saidcasing and within the confines of said condenser for circulating coolingair through said condenserand over said casing. A I

8. Refrigerating apparatus of the character .described comprising a sealed casing, a compressor and driving means therefor within said casing, an annular condenser connected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and locatedentirely above said casing, a fan mounted on top of said casing within the confines of said condenser for, circulating cooling air through said condenser and means for directing a portion of the coolingair circulated by said fan downwardly along the side walls of said casing.

9. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a sealed casing, a compressor and driving means therefor within said casing, a fan mounted on top of said casing, a condenser connected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and located entirely above said casing in laterally surrounding relationship to said fan and means for directing the air from said fan through said condenser and downwardly along the side walls of said casing.

10. Refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a sealed casin a compressor and a driving motor therefor within said cas- 

